Carson Wentz lunged to his right and then backpedaled to avoid a rush. After darting forward again Devan Dubnyk Jersey , he quickly rolled to his right and took off down the sideline at full speed.

The only reminder Saturday that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback was returning from knee surgery was the brace attached his left leg.

”Obviously he’s got some of that Kobe Bryant (stuff) in his knee,” defensive end Michael Bennett said with a smile, referring to the offseason knee treatment in Germany the NBA great used to receive. ”He probably went to Germany or Switzerland or some (stuff), because he’s looking really good out there.”

How upbeat were the Eagles after Wentz went through 11-on-11 drills with the starters at the first padded practice of training camp? Coach Doug Peterson interrupted new offensive coordinator Mike Groh’s press conference with the key question for the Super Bowl champions.

Wentz sure looked close to ready, if not already there, during a humid morning practice. Barely seven months removed from tearing the anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee, Wentz participated in full team drills without limitations. While he tossed two interceptions, he drew rave reviews from his teammates and coaches for his arm strength, accuracy and mobility.

”He’s in the right frame of mind. He’s making some good throws,” Groh said. ”As you can see, we’re pretty good on defense. Those guys are making it challenging for us on offense, particularly early, first day in pads.”

Behind backup Nick Foles, the Eagles went on to win their first NFL title. But it’s clear that even though Foles was the Super Bowl MVP, Wentz will become the starter again when he’s ready.

”When you’re rehabbing something, it’s not an exponential line. It’s not you’re slowly getting better and then you rapidly accelerate,” tight end Zach Ertz said. ”There’s going to be times in training camp probably where he doesn’t feel great or his knee doesn’t feel great and they’ll back him off.”

Because of that, the Eagles remain tight-lipped about whether they expect Wentz under center for the season opener Sept. 6 against Atlanta. It’s also uncertain if he’ll appear in a preseason game. Wentz didn’t speak to reporters after the 2 1/2-hour workout.

”To have everybody out there, Carson there, in some people’s minds is ahead of schedule,” Groh said. ”But I know this was his target date. So we’re happy to have him out there working. It’s only going to make everybody better.”

NOTES: With several receivers banged up and not practicing, including Alshon Jeffery and Bryce Treggs, the Eagles signed WR DeAndre Carter. The move gives the Eagles the maximum 90 players. … The team displayed the Lombardi Trophy in a glass case outside the practice fields, allowing fans to snap pictures while standing next to it.

—

Former NFL player Spencer Paysinger is drawing on his high school days living between two worlds for his first major Hollywood project.

Paysinger grew up in economically depressed South Los Angeles, but he attended Beverly Hills High School, where he captained the football team in the wealthy enclave. The culture shock he experienced is the basis for "All American," debuting Oct. 10 on the CW.

"I definitely had a gang influence with friends and family growing up in South Central, and people might think that Beverly Hills definitely shielded me from some problems. But in actuality, it only opened up a whole new can of worms Reggie White Jersey ," Paysinger told a TV critics' meeting on Monday.

"Just dealing with kids with affluence, kids with drug problems and having their parents not be there for weeks on end because they're vacationing or they're doing big business. Just dealing with that contrast was probably the biggest thing that I had to go through."

Paysinger commuted daily to high school as part of a program that brought students from other areas to Beverly Hills, where he had two uncles and an aunt who coached and taught there.

Spencer eventually attended the University of Oregon and won a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants, one of four NFL teams he played for before achieving his goal of retiring from the league no later than age 30.

The series shoots in some of Paysinger's old haunts in South L.A., like a local park and the barbershop he has patronized since he was a kid.

"South Central's been portrayed so many different ways in the media for however long," Paysinger said. "But with this show, I definitely want to implant that family aspect of the community."

Producers hired a consulting firm that designs all of the football plays in the show, and consulting producer Paysinger wants to make sure the action is authentic.

Paysinger isn't the only one with pro sports ties involved in the show. One of the writers is Jon Alston, who played five years in the NFL, and retired Major League Soccer player Robbie Rogers is a producer.